From January 2022, the secretariat of the regional water research network known as WaterNet will be based at Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) as part of a five-year agreement.

We caught up with the WaterNet executive management head, associate professor Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema, to obtain a better understanding of the 79-member organisation, a network of southern African university departments, research and training institutes specialising in water.

What is your role as WaterNet executive manager?

A collaborative effort by various health organisations and government is underway to step up individual and public efforts to encourage healthier eating as South Africa grapples with an increase in people suffering from diabetes, cancer and hypertension.

Private label brands have gained momentum in the grocery retail sector over the past few years. They are no longer just alternatives to the big-name brands, but are fast becoming brands of choice – provided attention is paid to perceptions about quality.

This is according to Gift Ndlovu, a researcher from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).

What does it take for emerging farmers to be successful? This is the question North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Faan Pelser and Prof Theuns Pelser from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Graduate School for Business and Leadership set out to answer in their recent research paper.

The paper is titled “The factors that contribute to the growth of emerging farmers in the agricultural sector, North West Province, South Africa”.

Space is not as silent as it may seem, and asteroseismologists know this. Asteroseismology is a booming field full of opportunity for students and young researchers and has an impact on many other fields of astronomical research.

But what is asteroseismology all about? Prof Don Kurtz, an A1-rated professor now based at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, explains.

North-West University (NWU) final-year BAdmin student Mbulelo Mbiphi was announced as one of the winners of the South African men’s fashion magazine GQ’s Best Dressed Awards for 2021 on 16 October 2021.

North-West University (NWU) master’s student Letago Kgomoeswana has been announced as the winner of the 2021 national FameLab® competition, one of the biggest science communication competitions in the world.

This competition promotes science and technology by creating a platform for young scientists to find their voices and reach public audiences.

Leading the North-West University (NWU) delegation, Prof Sonia Swanepoel, acting deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, launched a multi-sectoral collaboration community engagement project on 15 October 2021 at the Lokaleng village in Mahikeng.

The main aim of this project is to promote multi-sectoral and inter-faculty interventions in solving real-life community problems.

Time has proven that storytelling is a great tool for making difficult topics considerably more understandable.

We Should All Be Feminists, a published essay in book format by acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie, makes effective use of the “show, don't tell” adage that all authors are expected to follow by connecting with its readers through a personable conversational tone.

This conversation is carried forward by North-West University (NWU) senior lecturer and researcher Dr Tshepang Molale.

“Bullying is a public health crisis that affects all schools in South Africa.” This is according to Dr Molekodi Matsipane, director of the School of Nursing at the North-West University (NWU).

The School of Nursing at the Mahikeng Campus, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, the Office of the Premier, South African Police Services (SAPS), Men for Real and the South African Ministry Fraternal (SAMIFRA), launched an anti-bullying campaign from 11 to 13 October 2021 to address the high prevalence of bullying in schools in Mahikeng.